Every Hair Strand Tells a Story - Part 1

Interview with Nanna Salmi. Who is she? How did it all start? We are sitting in Nanna's studio, each with a cup of coffee in hand. My eyes wander around the room. Bundles of horsehair hang neatly from the wall, sketches cover the worktable, and small plastic bags labelled with names each contain a bundle of tail hair collected from a customer's horse. Everything is organised with remarkable care and precision.

"I'm extremely careful when handling horsehair," Nanna says. "I never work with the hair from two different customers at the same time. That's the very heart of what I do: every piece of jewellery is made from that customer's own horse's hair, and I want to be absolutely certain that it always stays that way." Envelopes have arrived from all over the world, some of them decorated with pictures of horses.

"Opening each envelope is always exciting. I wonder what colours I'll find, how long the hairs will be. Sometimes what's inside can be quite heartbreaking... There have even been occasions when I've found blood on the hair. Then I immediately know that something very sad has happened."

The horsehair often arrives together with a story. Before she even begins weaving, Nanna already knows the horse's name, its personality, and often even its "profession." "When people order a piece of jewellery, they tell me so much about the horse they love. I treasure that close connection with my customers. I hear wonderful stories, and together we often discuss which woven pattern would best reflect the horse's character and suit that particular piece of jewellery."

"When I hold a bundle of horsehair in my hands, every strand tells me a story. That's where the inspiration for every woven ribbon begins," Nanna says.

A Small Garden, A Place of Peace

The sun is shining outside. Through the window I can see a garden filled with large white flowers. An apple tree stretches its branches over a small backyard oasis, surrounded by green leaves and white blossoms — a peaceful little world of its own.

"Gardening is my way of relaxing and clearing my mind for a while. It's something I can shape, yet never completely control. The garden is alive. It changes constantly and is different every single day and every season," Nanna explains. "I love taking a break and sitting out there, especially after the rain when the water droplets sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds. It gives me exactly the same feeling as riding through the forest after a rain shower."

Nanna's dog, Calle, enjoys the little garden just as much. He follows her everywhere, happily soaking up the autumn sunshine. "Calle is always by my side. He's with me in the studio while I work, and when I take a break in the garden, he comes along too. He's the perfect colleague."

To be continued...